Print a Fish T-Shirt for Dad and Visit on Father’s Day

What:   Fish Printing Workshop & FREE admission for Fathers
When: Workshop on Saturday, June 19, Noon until 3 PM
            FREE admission for Dad’s on Sunday, June 20, all day 
Where:   Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers
Who:  Fathers, Grandfathers, children – bring the entire family

Join guest artists and architects for a Fish Printing Workshop (also known as gyotaku, the Japanese art of fish printing) at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in the Edison Caretaker’s House on June 19 from Noon – 3 PM.    Participating artists include Karen Flanders, City of Fort Myers Councilman and architect Mike Flanders and Parker Mudgett Smith architect Sean Gilmore.   Local real fish will be provided by the Edison Fish Market.

For a one of a kind gift for Dad, participants will create fish print t-shirts or fish prints on other clothing.  The Estates will furnish the fish, paint, and skill for participants to make a lasting keepsake of the day and a great Father’s Day gift 

Both the Edison and Ford families were well known for their love of fishing and fish.  It is not known if they tried gyotaku although the art form has been around for centuries as it was the first method for recording information about fish by printing the fish impression on rice paper. 

The workshop is FREE (a $5 donation is suggested which goes toward Estates Summer Camp scholarships) and participants are encouraged to bring their own shirts or printable fabric.  The Estates will have some t-shirts in limited sizes available for purchase.

On Father’s Day, June 20th,  Dads will be admitted FREE to tour the Estates accompanied with their paid child.    FREE admission for dad’s includes a tour of the newly restored homes, the historical botanical gardens, the Estates Museum and the Edison Research Laboratory.

The Estates is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Estates is the winner of the 2009 National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.efwefla.org.

Art in Bloom

 

On Sunday, March 7, 2010, three designers were presented with People’s Choice Awards for their winning floral designs at Art in Bloom  at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.  Debbie Hughes received First Place; Ena McGrattan received Second Place; and Suzy Valentine received Third Place.  Estates president & CEO, Chris Pendleton and Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council president, Mitzie Marckesano presented the awards. 

 

Winners of the Peoples Choice Award: Suzy Valentine, Debbie Hughes, and Ena McGrattan

 

Winners of the Peoples Choice Award: Suzy Valentine, Debbie Hughes, and Ena McGrattan

Estates Board of Trustee Helen Hendry; Estates president & CEO Chris Pendleton; Debbie Hughes and Ena McGrattan

Estates Board of Trustee LD Bochette and Estates garden volunteer Mary Ann Sedlock

Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council president Mitzi Marckesano and husband Patrick

People’s Choice first place winner Debbie Hughes with artwork by Manfred Behr

People’s Choice second place winner Ena McGrattan with artwork by Barbara Yeomans

People Choice third place winner Suzy Valentine with artwork by Ellen Sheppard

Winnie Stone with artwork by Southwest Florid Quilter’s Guild

Glenda Campbell with artwork by Bill North

Floral Designer Gloria Freitas Steidinger with artwork by Manfred Behr

Floral Designer Judy Gore with artwork by Kim Hambor

Lois Gressman artwork by Pat Dunne

Floral Designer Nancy Wheeler with artwork by Karen Flanders

Sandy Kavouras with artwork by Marie Dyer

Theo Kavouras with artwork by James DiGiorgio

Debbie Hughes with artwork by Leoma Lovegrove

Betty Mazzarella with artwork by Nadine Miller

Floral Designer Brenda Norris with artwork by Kim Hambor

Floral Designer Chris Pendleton with artwork by Augusta Crane

Floral Designer Darlene Thompkins with artwork by Leoma Lovegrove

Art in Bloom, a collaborative project of the Estates and the Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council, combined art work with floral design. Floral Designers included:  Glenda Campbell, Lois Gressman, Judy Gore, Debbie Hughes, Sandy Kavouras, Theo Kavouras, Betty Mazzarella, Ena McGrattan, Brenda Norris, Jan Padgett, Chris Pendleton, Gloria Freitas Steidinger, Winnie Stone, Darlene Thompkins, Suzy Valentine, and Nancy Wheeler.

The following artists were inspiration for the floral designs:  Manfred Behr, Edison Botanic Research Lab and Edison Estate Banyan Tree; Augusta Crane, ceramic flower sconce; James DiGiorgio, Born of Fire; Pat Dunne, Sea Grapes; Marie Dyer, Parrot;  Karen Flanders, Dot Heart;  Kim Hambor, Edison Estate Bamboo Leaves and Edison Family Collage;  Leoma Lovegrove, Sea Tow and Firebird; Nadine Miller, Banana Leaf;  Bill North, Edison Seminole Lodge; Ellen Sheppard, Golden Sawgrass; Southwest Florida Quilters Guild, and Barbara Yeomans.

“The floral designs were spectacular,” said Pendleton.  “Nearly 300 ballots were cast from members of the Estates, Garden Clubs and visitors.  The exhibit was a huge success and the Estates plans to continue Art in Bloom every season.”

Estates Board of Trustee Helen Hendry; Estates president & CEO Chris Pendleton; Debbie Hughes and Ena McGrattan

Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council president Mitzi Marckesano and husband Patrick

Estates Board of Trustee LD Bochette and Estates garden volunteer Mary Ann Sedlock

Artists and Authors Night at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates

On Sunday, December 20, 2009, 4 PM – 7 PM at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates meet Estates Creative Cottage Artists and Authors for one of-a-kind gifts for the holiday season. The seasonal Creative Cottage is back again this year in the historic Edison Caretaker’s House with a wonderful group of local artists, authors and craftspeople.

Featured artists include:

• Photographer, Manfred Behr with work including hand painted boxes and photographs of the Estates Banyan tree

• Ceramic artist and painter, Augusta Crane featuring handcrafted bowls and sculptures of orchids, hibiscus and other tropical flowers and leaves

• Impressionist painter, Ellen Sheppard who has captured tropical south Florida and forgotten landscapes on canvas

• Painter, Marie Dyer who loves painting on found objects and her work includes furniture, floor cloths and rain barrels

• Metalwork artist, James DiGiorgio with specially designed pieces combining classic lines with modern design

• Jewelry artist, Anita Singh featuring earrings, necklaces and bracelets

• Virginia Harper, a self taught artist whose joyful work includes painted garden furniture, posts and other outdoor three dimensional painted creations.

• Karen Flanders with dazzling glass work, wearables and colorful three dimensional art in clay and multimedia

• Matlacha artist and gallery owner, Leoma Lovegrove who is known for her colorful iconic depiction of Florida themes and modern impressionism

• Painter, Pat Dunn with Florida landscapes and still life in impressionist style

• Norman Love, internationally known, award winning chocolatier who has created a special hand-crafted chocolate in honor of Thomas Edison

Featured authors include:

• Tom Smoot, Jr., The Edisons of Fort Myers

• John Sheppard, One Man’s Family in Early Fort Myers

• Doug MacGregor, Get Creative…Turn on the Bright Side of Your Brain

Estates Creative Cottage Artists and Authors will personalize artwork and books for a one of a kind gift and Estates Members will receive a 10% discount. Shoppers passes will be issued at the Estates ticket counter. Call 239-334-7419 for a list of participating artists.

The Estates is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Estates was awarded the National Trust for Historic Preservation Award in 2008 and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.efwefla.org.

Thanksgiving Weekend Events at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates

The Edison Garden Market and Creative Cottage are two added activities at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates on Thanksgiving Weekend.  The Estates will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM – 5:30 PM and closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Throughout the weekend more than 30 vendors and the Estates Garden Shoppe will offer a wide variety of unusual plants including heritage plants, orchids, bamboo, bromeliads, fruits, vegetables, roses, edibles and gift items for the garden and home.  Holiday gifts such as the Estates Heritage Herb baskets and other items from the Estates Garden Shoppe will also be available.  The Edison Garden Market is a free event located in the Estates public gardens and the area near the Banyan Tree.  Edison Garden Market hours are Friday, November 27, noon – 5 PM; Saturday, November 28, 9 AM – 5 PM; Sunday, November 29, 9 AM – 3 PM.   

Creative Cottage also opens Thanksgiving weekend in the Edison Caretaker’s House with spectacular work for purchase by regional artists, authors and chefs.  Featured artisan, Norman Love, internationally known award winning chocolatier has created a special “Edison” hand-crafted chocolate in honor of Thomas Edison.  Other artists include:  Leoma Lovegrove, Marie Dyer, Manfred Behr, Karen Flanders, Ellen Sheppard, Virginia Harper, Anita Singh, James DiGiorgio, Lynn Russell, and members of the Southwest Florida Quilter’s Guild.  Creative Cottage will be open 1 PM – 5 PM until December 11.  During the Estates Holiday event, Edison & Ford Holiday Nights, hours will be extended to 9 PM.  Estates members are always admitted free and will receive a 10% discount.  For non members a “shoppers pass” will be issued at the main ticket area.